Fates Parallel (A Xianxia/Wuxia Inspired Cultivation Story)

Unlike the approaching Qin delegation, Seong Misun did not signal her arrival in any way. She simply arrived one day, carried by her wind walking spell, and expected to be greeted appropriately. Yoshika knew the princess’ idiosyncrasies well, and had prepared for just that.

A group of Goryeon mages who’d been studying in the academy through the exchange program, led by Jia and Eui, met Seong Misun at the city gates. The mages bowed respectfully to their princess as the girls approached to greet her.

Jia beamed happily.

“Misun! It’s good to see you again. How have you been?”

The princess shrugged dismissively, casting a critical eye over the gathered mages.

“Fine. Not bothering to meet me as the empress?”

Eui shook her head.

“We’re always the empress, but we don’t see the need to put on airs for a friend. You know us better than that.”

“Tch, I suppose. But I’ll warn you now that this isn’t a social visit. Where are my sisters?”

“We weren’t sure when to expect your arrival, so they’re busy preparing your accommodations.”

Misun scowled, gesturing at the kneeling mages.

“You had time to arrange all this, but they couldn’t bother to be ready for my arrival?”

Jia smiled apologetically.

“Your subjects were eager to drop what they were doing to greet a princess—your sisters, not so much.”

“Little brats. They’ve gotten more impudent since they left.”

Yoshika ushered Misun into the city, and the mages followed to serve as Misun’s entourage. She typically didn’t bother to bring any servants with her, but hated having to do anything herself.

Seong Misun was a powerful and talented mage in her own right—and one of the youngest xiantian cultivators on the continent, after Yoshika and Yan Yue. However, she was quite lazy, and prone to relying heavily on her talents rather than putting forth any real effort. Princess Seong Misun only truly applied herself to the things that interested her—usually personal research projects.

Even then, she had a bad habit of hopping from project to project without ever committing herself to anything. Her discarded works were a fertile ground for young mages looking to make a name for themselves by completing her abandoned research.

As they made their way to the embassy, Eui cast a sidelong glance at the princess.

“So...I hear that The Snake is dead?”

Misun scoffed.

“Ancestors, you’re as subtle as a brick. Yes, he’s dead.”

“How?”

“That’s a secret, but I assure you—he’s gone and he is not coming back. I saw to it myself.”

That was already more information that Eui had expected to get from the princess, so she’d take it. Misun had spent some time studying the nature of souls, reincarnation, and the afterlife. It was in part thanks to her insights that Yoshika had learned that the divine seal on their world interfered with the normal cycle of reincarnation, trapping fallen souls in an increasingly crowded nether realm that would eventually collapse.

If anyone had managed to find a way to stop Do Hye’s soul jar technique, then it made sense that it would be her. It also explained why they were being so secretive about it—a technique like that was dangerous in the wrong hands.

Jia sighed, frowning.

“I guess I’ll have to break the news to Dae at some point, then...”

They soon arrived at the embassy, where Eunae and Haeun awaited them. Once the usual greetings and formalities were out of the way, Misun got straight down to business.

“Seong Eunae and Seong Haeun are both to return home to the palace at their earliest convenience. Eunae is to enter the Sky Hall and prepare for her ascension, while Haeun completes her studies in Goryeo.”

Neither sister was surprised by the announcement, meaning that they already knew and it had been for Yoshika’s benefit. Misun didn’t wait for a response before continuing.

“Empress Yoshika is invited to join in whatever capacity she sees fit. As Haeun’s master, you may continue to have a hand in the development of her cultivation, and after your performance in Takeda Rika’s unauthorized use of the Sky Hall, you have the queen’s permission to assist with Eunae’s ascension.”

Eui frowned.

“Is that an offer, or a demand?”

“I was told to be very precise in the delivery of this message. You are invited as guests to the palace, and you have permission to aid in the princesses’ cultivation.”

In other words, the Queen couldn’t condescend to ask Jiaguo for help. Any contributions Yoshika made to Eunae or Haeun’s development had to seem incidental. It was even possible that Goryeo would try to claim credit for the creation of Haeun’s divination techniques.

Still, it’s not like she could refuse. Yoshika had no intention of abandoning her friend or her disciple.

“I see. When are you planning to leave?”

“As soon as possible. I’ll give you a day or two to get ready, but I’m not planning on staying long.”

Jia bit her lip. She was still worried about the Qin delegates, and wasn’t comfortable with any of her aspects leaving before their arrival.

“We have representatives from the Qin Empire arriving shortly, and the shogun of Yamato is also present. I don’t suppose I could convince you to remain until our business with them is concluded? You’re also free to attend any meetings as a representative of Goryeo, of course.”

Misun grimaced.

“This is the second time you’ve tried to drag me into international politics against my will.”

Eunae covered her mouth and giggled.

“Centered around Yan Yue’s engagement, no less. That’s an odd thing to have happened twice.”

“Tch, fine. I suppose it’s better to be privy to whatever nonsense you’re up to this time than not, but if it takes too long, then we are leaving with or without you.”

Jia nodded.

“Understood. I appreciate your generosity.”

Misun sighed dramatically.

“You’d better make it up to me later. I want a look at that reflecting pool of yours—Min won’t shut up about how you’ve yet to make good on your promise to share its secrets with us.”

“We never made any such promise, but I’ll discuss it with Dae and Yue. I’m sure we can arrange an inspection.”

“A demonstration. I want to see how it works for myself.”

That was a big ask, and Misun wasn’t that close a friend. She was blatantly trying to steal the technology, and while Yoshika wasn’t certain she even could, it probably wouldn’t be proper to allow her the attempt.

“We’ll see. A direct demonstration might be a bit much, but it might be possible to compromise. Haeun already knows how to operate it, after all.”

Misun shrugged. She was probably only asking out of her own curiosity rather than a poorly veiled act of espionage.

Probably.

 

---

 

The Qin delegates arrived right on time and Yoshika was once again reminded of how lucky she was to have Yan Yue. She had planned every part of the reception, refusing to allow Yoshika to even try to help. Judging from the descriptions of the leading palanquin, Yue guessed that the leader of the group was a sect grandmaster or a high ranking member of the imperial family, and it was important to greet them appropriately.

The lessons she had given Yoshika in imperial etiquette hadn’t covered receiving high ranking dignitaries, but Yue’s preparation didn’t disappoint.

She arranged a grand reception for the delegates—essentially a parade through the city that would take them all the way from the gates to the embassy, giving them ample time to demonstrate their wealth and power.

Yoshika and Yue were to wait at the embassy and greet them in person only once they’d arrived and chosen to disembark on their own accord.

There were several carriages, but only the one in the front mattered—a shining golden palanquin carried by xiantian cultivators. Whoever was inside was extremely powerful and wanted Yoshika to know it.

She chewed on her lip nervously as the delegation arrived at the gates and the long wait began.

“You don’t think this whole thing is a bit too...deferential? It feels a bit like we’re kowtowing to them.”

Yue shook her head.

“It’s good to show a bit of deference to someone more powerful. More importantly, by giving them so much leeway in the heart of our territory, we’ve opened the relationship by offering them a great deal of face. It would be rude in the extreme for them to intentionally embarrass us, now.”

“As long as we’re not embarrassing ourselves in the process.”

“Hm? When did you go and develop a sense of pride? Not to worry, Yoshika—I won’t let you embarrass yourself as long as I’m by your side.”

Yoshika had to resist the urge to stick out her tongue. There were people watching, and she was presenting as her spirit form. Her true body was still safely tucked away in her soul realm, and if her guests had a problem with that, then too bad. She had learned her lesson about being incautious around other xiantian cultivators.

The parade was mercifully uneventful. Crowds gathered to gawk at the ostentatious guests, kept at a safe and respectful distance by a cordon. The occupants of the carriages did not bother to reveal themselves, satisfied simply to have their arrival heralded in such a grand display.

As they arrived at the embassy, Yoshika was struck by just how overwhelming the aura of the mysterious leader of the delegates was up close. She had met a lot of very powerful people, but she placed that aura in the same ranks as the Dragon Lord who ruled the southern isles, or the avatars of Shen Yu and Longyan, the divine sovereigns. Their presence had a weight to it that reminded Yoshika of just how broad ‘xiantian’ was as a category.

The carriers set the palanquin down and backed away, bowing low even before the occupants started to disembark.

Two almost identical young women exited the carriage, and Yoshika could tell immediately that they were the source of the aura. Not just one, now that she knew what she was looking at. The two of them each had their own domains, but they were linked by a powerful natural soul resonance enhancing each other’s power. It wasn’t quite dual cultivation, but the effect was similar—together, their power was greater than the sum of their parts.

Yoshika and Yue clasped their hands together in front of them and bowed politely in greeting. The twins returned the gesture, but their bow was barely more than a nod. That much, at least, Yoshika understood—they were indicating that even in the heart of her empire, they considered themselves above her.

It rankled, a bit, but she couldn’t deny that they were stronger than she was, and they weren’t being disrespectful—yet—just haughty. Yoshika was used to condescension, and she wasn’t going to let it bother her now.

She stepped forward to introduce herself.

“Welcome, honored guests. I am Empress Yoshika, of the Jiaguo Empire. I am pleased to offer you the hospitality of my land.”

One of the twins raised an eyebrow, her jaw setting into a subtle frown.

“It is not your land, pretender. There is only one empire under heaven, and it bears the name of our father—Qin.”

Her sister smiled ruefully.

“But we accept your hospitality, regardless. I am Qin Ling, daughter of the God-Emperor and first princess of the heavenly empire.”

“And I am Qin Xiang, the same.”

Yan Yue’s eyes practically popped out of her head, and she bowed almost at ninety degrees as she introduced herself.

“I am High Arbiter Yan Yue, of Jiaguo City. You honor us with your presence, your highnesses.”

Qin Ling smiled softly and gestured for Yue to rise.

“And it is you who we are here to honor.”

Her sister nodded.

“It’s a rare accomplishment to reach such a high level of cultivation at such a young age. Rarer still for a woman.”

“You are likely to receive many offers in the days to come, but on behalf of our father, let us be the first—Yan Yue, you are invited to join the Jade Palace as the God-Emperor’s one thousand two hundred and sixteenth consort.”